Friday, September 23, 2016

The month of December can bring busy days and filled weekends. Whether you're shopping, decorating, mailing, cooking or creating handmade gifts, December can be a non-stop, fun-filled schedule. This includes parties--lots of parties! Besides the company of good friends and family, as well as the delicious food, parties often offer holiday games. Let's take a peek at some of these fun and funny ways to celebrate the season.

First, the Christmas Gifting games:

Dirty Santa - This is a popular grab bag game (called many different names) in which party-goers are asked to bring a wrapped gift of a certain value. All gifts are placed together and guests take a gift one by one, unwrapping and showing his or her treasure to all guests. The next person can either choose another gift, or steal the one opened first. If a gift is stolen, the victim chooses another. The fun really kicks up when there are more gifts already identified than are wrapped. Many times there is a limit to how many times a specific gift can be stolen. And to make things fair, the first person to open a gift gets to steal from any of the gifts.

Rolling Snowball - This game has party guests sit in a circle. A ball of plastic wrap is passed from one person to the next. Inside of this "snowball" are small prizes.

You can include candy, gum, lottery tickets, coins, gift cards, whatever your guests may be interested in. Once a guest receives the snowball, he or she must unwrap it to free the prizes. Oh, yes, there is a time limit to each person's turn, say ten seconds, so the faster they unwrap, the more prizes they gather. If the snowball still holds goodies after everyone's had a turn, the play continues until there is nothing left of it. (Photo credit : Facebook – Missie Bickel)

Lefty-Righty Game - This game takes more thought and preparation by the host, and also uses grab bag gifts. Guests sit or stand in a circle with the host in the middle, holding the grab bag gifts they brought. The host reads a story or poem, and every time the word RIGHT is said, guests pass their gifts to the right. When the word LEFT is uttered, gifts are passed to the left. Of course, the host will have written a story or poem ahead of time. You can click HERE for several different ones that you can personalize to fit your guests. When the story or poem is finished, guests can open what they hold.

Christmas Lottery -

This game uses several different ways to allow guests to attain their holiday gifts. My favorite is to use "coupons" that have guests trade the gifts in their hands with someone else, as in "Trade your gift with someone shorter than you." Check HERE for free printables.Now we offer some Fun-4-Fun's-Sake games:

Besides the popular games like "Pin the Nose on Rudolph," and Christmas BINGO or Charades, you could try a Snowman Wrap Relay with toilet paper (Photo credit: Party Wishes). For something a little less active, play Silver Bells, a matching game using Hershey's Kisses with small circular labels of Christmas symbols attached to the bottoms. In Snowman Bowling, ten 1 or 2 liter plastic bottles are painted as snowmen, and rolled up socks can be used to bowl the snowmen down.For small gatherings, a game of Roll a Snowman can be played around the table, with each number of a die (1-6) representing a part of a snowman. To play, the die is tossed and draws that part of the snowman. That player continues rolling the die until they roll a number already rolled. Play is passed to the next person. To win, the player who rolls the last item needed to complete the snowman wins. So a person can roll five items for the snowman, but lose to another's lucky roll! More game details can be found HERE.However you celebrate Christmas at your parties, games can break the ice, dole out grab bag gifts and create tons of merry memories. Let us know if you have a favorite game you'd like to share with us. We'd love to hear from you!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Goodness it is incredible how easy it is to get behind. Thanks so much for your patience in waiting for the announcement of our winners and our top three Stocking Stuffers from Challenge #19. Are you one of those lucky peeps?! Let's find out!

Leslie, you are the winner of three images from Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps, our guest sponsor for July (chosen by Mini Web Tool), based on all eligible participants (i.e., those entrants who followed the optional theme).

Leslie, please send an email to the_12_moc_linkup {at} outlook {dot} com (or click HERE
to bring the address up in your email program), with the subject, "12MoC Challenge #19 WINNER"
to make arrangements to receive your prize. Please note that it may take me several
days to get back to you. Thank you for your patience. In the interim, please grab a copy of the winner badge below for your blog.

Next, it is time to get on with showcasing the top three. With so many wonderful entries to choose from, it is always such a difficult
task for the
design team. We did however settle on three awesome creations. So,
without further ado, here are our Stocking Stuffers for Challenge #19:

Congrats to our top three Stocking Stuffers! Rosina,Megand Bożena, please grab a copy of the badge below for your blog.

Everyone who links up two cards
each month is eligible to receive a free digital paper. All those who linked up two cards
during the month of June were mailed their paper. If you thought
that you had linked two, but did not receive a free paper, please contact us and
let us know and we'll look into it for you.

The nine individuals
who linked
up a minimum of two cards each during the month of JULY,
qualifying them to receive the digital paper from that month, will receive
the Poinsettias paper which garnered 66% of
the votes. I
have included the watermark of it, below...

To all of you
who linked up during July, thanks ever so much! We are so happy to
have all of you
with us and hope that you'll continue to link up your holiday cards
throughout the remainder of 2016!!!

Papers will be sent to the email address that qualifying participants
used when they added their cards to the Link Up. I hope to get them
mailed by the 1st of October. Your patience is appreciated.

As always, we are going to have a
random draw from all the entries and give out a set of six digital
papers to
one lucky individual. The papers are all made so why not have an extra
prize! Here is the watermark for the
full set...

Jennifer, as you were originally entitled to receiving the freebie as you entered two cards, I will instead send you the full set when I do the mailout.

Well folks, that is it for today. While you are here, please be sure to
check out the details for our current challenge going on now (if you
haven't already), with the Optional Theme this month of "The Nature of Christmas". You can find out all the details along with the link up, by clicking HERE.

Also, be sure to join us on September 23rd, when Pat will be here to share some more holiday traditions! Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure
to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through
Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Hello there folks! It is time to get on with the midway for Challenge #21.
Just a note before I start: It has been one of those months and I still
haven't finished the winner announcement. I'm hoping to get
to it in the next few days; so, if you are waiting, I really appreciate
your patience!

Right now though, it is time to see what the Merry Maidens have been up to with their images from Sparkle N Sprinkle, our guest sponsor for this month!

Check
out the beautiful images that the team worked with this month for the
midway of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will
take you to their page in the Sparkle N Sprinkle store where each of these images can be found.

Christmas Doves

Holiday Cheer

A Winter Cardinal

Peace

Slim

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's
Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set The Nature of Christmas. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of September will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper
up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post.
Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who
link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll in the
sidebar on the top right hand side.

Now
check out what the Merry Maidens and my Co-coordinator Pat came
up with to inspire you. Clicking
on
the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check
out the details for all these wonderful cards.

So if you haven't entered already, what are you waiting for? It is
time to link up your Christmas and other holiday cards for September. Whether
you choose to link up two Anything Goes themed cards simply to
earn your free paper this month, or you choose to also follow the
optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's prize, it is completely
up to you!

Here is a refresher of the details for this challenge...

Please remember that this is a CARDS ONLY link up. While we've
had some lovely tag entries in the past, we've sadly had to disqualify them.

Challenge #21

Optional Theme:The NATURE of Christmas

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you,
because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places”
~Roald Dahl

Before Christmas came in a box—store displays going up in August,
made-for-TV movies with frequent holiday-themed advertisements, online
shopping—before the commercialization of the holiday…

…there were family outings in search of the perfect pine tree, strings
of popcorn and cranberries ready to hang on that perfect tree, and
decorations made from holly leaves and pine cones. Sometimes the best
way to capture Christmas is to turn your face away from the TV, the
computer, your phone, and watch the magic of Christmas unfold outside
your windows. We’d like you to remember the Nature of Christmas with our
newest challenge. Show us woodland scenes, snowfall, winter
animals—whatever flora or fauna brings out the natural beauty of the
holiday and inspires you to create.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card has some sort of outdoor nature element in the design.Examples include: scene of trees, forest, river, birds, woodland animals, etc. Whatever element you choose must be flora or fauna (i.e. botanical or animal related).If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and
earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year
end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the
theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15
gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store.

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions'
tab. As this is a unique kind of link up where we have both an
anything goes Christmas option and an optional theme to follow, be sure
to read all the details and rules you need to know in order to
participate, by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

You can find the Challenge Details Summary along with the link up for Challenge #21 by clicking HERE.

Don't Forget, if everything goes according to plan...

Stay tuned for the winner announcement for Challenge #19.

Be sure to join us on September 23rd when Pat will be here to share a Christmas Tradition with you all.

Next up it will be time for our new challenge to start on October 1st.

Then, the winners from Challenge #20 will hopefully be posted on October 8th.

Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure
to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through
Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

Thursday, September 01, 2016

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.
It is the first day of September and that means it is time for our next
challenge to get started!

Here is what you need to know...

The Basics

While you can find out ALL the information you need to know in order to participate in the challenge by checking out the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page (or by clicking HERE), here is a refresher of the basics.

Anyone can link up as many Christmas and/or December holiday themed cards (including Happy New Year's cards)throughout
the month with an ANYTHING GOES theme.

Every person who has linked up a MINIMUM of
two (2) cards will be eligible to
receive a specially designed Christmas themed digital paper.

Each month there will be an OPTIONAL theme to follow. Anyone who submits a card adhering to the monthly theme,
will have the chance to win a prize from that month's guest sponsor.

Every holiday card you submit to the link up, earns you one chance to win a
special digital Christmas kit that will be offered up after the year is
complete.

Now that the basics are out of the way, how about we get on with the details of Challenge #21.

Challenge #21

Optional Theme:The NATURE of Christmas

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you,
because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places”
~Roald Dahl

Before Christmas came in a box—store displays going up in August, made-for-TV movies with frequent holiday-themed advertisements, online shopping—before the commercialization of the holiday…

…there were family outings in search of the perfect pine tree, strings of popcorn and cranberries ready to hang on that perfect tree, and decorations made from holly leaves and pine cones. Sometimes the best way to capture Christmas is to turn your face away from the TV, the computer, your phone, and watch the magic of Christmas unfold outside your windows. We’d like you to remember the Nature of Christmas with our newest challenge. Show us woodland scenes, snowfall, winter animals—whatever flora or fauna brings out the natural beauty of the holiday and inspires you to create.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card has some sort of outdoor nature element in the design. Examples include: scene of trees, forest, river, birds, woodland animals, etc. Whatever element you choose must be flora or fauna (i.e. botanical or animal related).If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize.

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store.

Check out the amazing images that the team worked with this month for the
start of the challenge. Clicking on any of the image watermarks will
take you to their page in the Sparkle N Sprinkle store where each of these images can be found.

Holiday Greetings

Christmas Poinsettia

A Winter Wonderland

While team members had the option of working with any of my Décosse's
Dynamite Doodles papers, I did create a special set called The Nature of Christmas. Check out the preview...

Everyone who links up a minimum of two cards during the month of August will earn ONE of the digital papers from this set. The specific paper
up for grabs will be shown during the winner announcement post.
Additionally, one random winner will earn the full set of papers.

Have your say in determining which paper will be offered to those who
link up a minimum of two cards this month by completing the poll in the
sidebar on the top right hand side. Please note that I will probably be late in getting the new poll up as I won't be home when this post goes live.

Now
check out what the Sleigh Belles came up with to inspire you. Clicking on
the names will take you to the individual blogs where you can check
out the details for all these wonderful cards...

So what are you waiting for? It is time to link up your Christmas and
other holiday cards for September! Whether you choose to link up two
Anything Goes themed cards simply to earn your free paper this month, or
you choose to also follow the optional theme to have a chance at the sponsor's
prize, it is completely up to you!

If you are new to this unique challenge, you can find out the impetus behind why I started it under the 'Introductions' tab and all the details you need to know in order to participate, in the 'Challenge Details' tab (both tabs located at the top of the blog).

We have a packed month as usual; so, Pat and I and the rest of the gang hope to see you back with us soon!

Join us on September 8th, when we hope to publish the names of the
winners and top
picks from Challenge #19.

Then, be sure to join us again on September 15th, for our midway post where you'll get to see cards created by the Merry Maidens!

Then during the third week of September, we'll hopefully be back here to share a Christmas tradition and/or recipe with you.

Other special posts may be published throughout the month. Be sure
to sign up to have our posts delivered by email or follow us through
Bloglovin' so you don't miss a thing!

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY
Each month we'll include a summary of details for the particular
challenge taking place. If you are new, please be sure to familiarize
yourself with all the details and rules in the
'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page. Please note that dates and times listed below are for
this particular challenge only:

Cards for this challenge will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. (18:00 hrs), September 1st - 11:55 p.m. (23:55 hrs), September 30th, 2016.

If you wish to receive the free digi paper being offered up for this month, you need to link up a minimum of two (2) Christmas or holiday themed cards.

This is NOT a progressive challenge. You can jump in at any time.

You can link up as many holiday themed cards as you want as long as each entry is with a new project. HOWEVER, if you decide to follow the optional theme of The NATURE of Christmas (see specific details above), only a maximum of three (3) entries will qualify for the draw for this month's prize of a $15 gift certificate to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store. You must add 'FT' after you name so we know which cards to add to the random draw for the sponsor's prize.

No backlinking.

Make sure when entering your project that you mention The 12 Months
of Christmas Link Up in your post with a link back to this blog.

Please remember to link directly to your blog post where we can see
your creation, and not just the generic link to your blog. Only permalinks are accepted.

Please help spread the word by grabbing our badge, adding it to your blog and linking it to ours.

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Welcome!

Hello and welcome to The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. You'll find everything you need to know about this challenge blog, how to play and more, by checking out the different pages at the top of the blog.

We hope that you'll consider joining us! We can't wait to see your creations!

Lisa and Pat

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email: the_12_moc_linkup {at] outlook [dot] com.

Thanks so much to Sandy S. from Scribbles Designs who has generously allowed us to use her images in the design of our badges and watermarks. Please be sure to go and check out her store. Clicking on the badge will take you there.

Looking for Fabulous Blogwear?! Well look no further than Imagine That. Thanks to Kris B. for creating this beautiful blogwear for us. You too can have unique backgrounds! Be sure to check out Imagine That's line of incredible free blogwear. Clicking on the badge will take you the blogwear section of the store.

Current Challenge

Challenges go live the 1st of each month generally at 6:00 p.m., EST. Please click HERE to go to the current challenge. Linking two cards each month earns you a free digi paper and a chance to win other goodies at the end of the year. Follow the optional theme for a chance to win a prize from our monthly guest sponsor.

Challenge Winners

Are you a lucky winner or part of the top three in Challenge #29? Click HERE to find out. If you missed the results of Challenge #28, click HERE. For all other previous challenges click HERE.